One of the things we really like about staying at a KOA is that they are typically very clean, the bathrooms / showers are nice, they have fun things to do at camp and they are close to town. KOA Pendleton certainly checked all the boxes here. This KOA is run by Kana and Jon who live there full time in a small house right at the entrance of camp, so they are frequently around to help with anything or answer any questions about area. I had the pleasure of speaking with Kana and learned her story about living in Boise most of her life before she was able to “escape” from the booming growth. She and her husband Jon sold everything they had. The house the furniture, everything…..and moved into an RV to live in full time. Eventually it brought them to Pendleton where they have been managing the KOA there for the past 4 years. Inspiring story about downsizing and leaving it all behind to live a life of simplicity.
Pendleton Oregon is mostly known for the Round Up Rodeo (which takes place in September), Pendleton Whiskey (which actually isn’t produced in Pendleton, it just has been sort of adopted by the city since it shares a name and it has a strong association with the Pendleton Round Up. The logo on the bottle is the same logo you will see all over town with a cowboy atop of a bucking bronco) and wind! According to some of the locals we met, the winds can reach up to 70mph on some days. Fortunately we had nice weather and mild conditions while we were there which was a welcome break from the rain, snow and hail!
The busiest time of year here is of course during the Round Up Rodeo and we imagine the town is incredibly lively around this time. Kana at the KOA mentioned to us that about 70% of the RVs at their campground are permanent residents and they will be at full capacity all throughout the summer so definitely book far enough in advance if you plan to stay here in the summer or for the rodeo. KOA Pendleton also has a few noteworthy highlights worth mentioning. One of the coolest features is the vintage wagon that can be rented out. It is tucked away in a private spot in the back with a gas fire pit, picnic table and sweeping views of the plains with peaks of the Umatilla National Forest off in the distance. The wagon itself has a platform where you can lay out an air mattress and a couple of sleeping bags for a fun and unique camping experience.
There are also tent sites that are available in the late spring and summer as well as a horseshoe pit for some competitive fun. I guess if there aren’t any cornhole boards, horseshoes will have to do 😉
The downtown area is just a short 10 minute drive and it has a unique and fascinating history. We went on the Pendleton Underground Tour which takes you through the history of the city, how it got it’s name and the incredible network of underground tunnels that served many purposes such as a way to safely transport goods to retail shops or money to the bank – much safer than doing those tasks above ground so we are told. The tunnels also had a few speakeasys, illegal card rooms, entertainment rooms with bowling lanes, a meat market, Chinese laundry services, a Chinese jail and many other interesting features that took place in the late 1800’s and early 1900’s. The tour takes about 2 hours and costs $20 per person. If you find yourself in the Pendleton area, we highly recommend going on this tour.
Later in the evening we were in search of another unique dive bar experience and spent our time checking out Rainbow Café which was a top recommendation from one of the owners at the R. Rebellion gift shop. Rainbow Café is more of a diner by day, bar by night and we learned there is a reason for that. Apparently in Oregon there are no standalone bars. In order to serve alcohol, the business also has to serve food. Interesting law that makes it tough to find an authentic dive bar 😉 After spending way too much time at Rainbow Café taking to a local with a bunch of slightly believable stories, we walked across the street to check out Hamley’s but they were closed and then we tried Packard Tavern which was also closed! Guess we will have to bank those stops for the next time we are in Pendleton.
On our last day in town, we set out to find a hike that was not too far away. We decided on South Fork Walla Walla trailhead which was about an hour drive. When we got there, we were disappointed to find that the trail had been closed due to being washed out by the river. We did get to admire a tiered waterfall though so not a complete bust.
So, what do you do when a wrench gets thrown into your hiking plans? Go wine tasting of course!
Our first stop on our hiking turned wine excursion was Blue Mountain Cider company in Milton-Freewater where we tasted beer and cider and played cornhole and connect 4 to pass the time. We also had their hummus plate which was fantastic. (check out our bar games video on Tiktok that we made here)
We then went into Washington and enjoyed a tasting at Saviah Cellars. Their claim to fame is the wine they produce comes from the “Rock Region”. Interesting to learn that this is a new region fully recognized by the wine industry. The wines from this region have a unique taste and you can definitely pick up hints of the rock in the wine. We also visited Amavi where we had a chocolate and wine paring. The grounds and views are spectacular and the experience was fun…. The wines though…. Eh. The wines in the Washington region really haven’t impressed us much. Guess we are a bit spoiled by Napa and Sonoma wines and it is becoming more and more clear why wines from back home are so far superior to other parts of our country.
One way to save a little money (or perhaps lose a lot) on a camping trek across country is that casinos let RVs stay for free in the parking lot. Since our setup does not have an internal grey / black tank, the only way we could do a stay like this is if we are just passing through town and needed a place to rest for the night. We paid a quick visit to Wildhorse Casino which is about a 15 minute drive from the KOA. There were several RVs posted up in the parking lot, so there are definitely RVers who take advantage of the free hospitality. We popped in for a bit, played the crazy slot machines and walked out $100 in the positive! Not too bad for a nights work.
There is definitely plenty to do and explore in and around Pendleton Oregon, so if you find yourself passing through or intentionally exploring the area, the Pendleton KOA is a great place to stay. Kana is an awesome host, the locals and the staff are super friendly and they go above and beyond to make you feel welcome. Until next time Pendleton!
Cheers,
-Tiny Trailer Trips Crew